EWWNP means Exploring Wild and Wonderful Number Patterns Created by Yourself! Investigate what happens if we create number patterns using some simple rules.

Steps to the Podium

Stage: 2 and 3 Challenge Level:

This activity has been particularly created for the most able.

(The pupils that you come across in many classrooms just once every few years.)

There is a raised step, often called a podium (see blue above), which you can get to by the two sets of steps, one on either side (red).

The steps and the podium are made out of cylinder blocks, each block the same size.

The picture above shows a $2$ step set of steps on either side of the podium and the total number of blocks is $9$.

The podium is always just one block higher than the top step. So you can explore the number of blocks that are necessary if the podium is $4$, $5$, $6$ . . . etc. blocks high and there is the required number of steps on either side.

Now that's not difficult. But now, suppose that there are three sets of steps, rather than two, leading up to the podium, or four, five six . . . etc. What about the number of blocks that are needed for the increasing height of the podium?

When you've got all the results of the number of blocks required no matter what the situation is, you will have a large set of numbers.

Explore these numbers.

Can you generalise? Maybe find a way of knowing very quickly how many blocks are needed for a certain number of steps up to the podium given the number of sets of steps around the podium?

Can you find other things to explore with the sets of numbers that you have now?

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the
NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to
embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities
can be found here.